Author: andrea Hood

It’s that time of year again…. the leaves are falling, days are getting cooler and shorter, and the start of the holiday season is upon us. With Thanksgiving and holiday parties on the horizon, we wanted to share our 5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season to help you feel your best this holiday season – energized, focused, happy, and healthy!

Now, it’s fine to indulge every now and again, but the problem with the holidays and the endless parties they bring is that your once-in-awhile indulgences become every day occurrences.

The pumpkin pie you eat on Thanksgiving turns into leftover pie the next few days, along with wine all weekend long, a sugary coffee treat on the way to work Monday morning, cookies in the office breakroom for a midday snack, followed by more pie leftovers when you get home.

Does this ever happen to you?! Want to feel more energized and have a productive holiday season?

Here are our 5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

1). Drink more water. Eating salty and sugary foods leaves you dehydrated and low on energy. Pass up the sugary juices and soda and stick to water. It will help flush the bad food out of your body and improve your circulation. Tip: Drink half of your body weight in ounces each day. For example, if you weight 150 pounds, you would want to drink at least 75 ounces of water each day, increasing the amount if you’ve consumed alcohol or salty and sugary foods. 

2). Walk daily. Another way to improve your circulation is to take a daily walk. Your walk doesn’t have to be long – a 15 or 20 minute walk is a great way to start your fitness routine. Walking is also a great way to improve your energy level. You would be surprised how a 20 minute morning walk will give you more energy throughout your day!

3). Eat more dark leafy greens. Dark leafy greens, like spinach and kale, are great foods for getting you back on track. They contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin A and K, folate, and iron. They contain high amounts of fiber – which will also help rid your body of the not-so-healthy foods that we encounter during the holidays. Tip: Stop on by SurfBerry and enjoy one of our green juices like Cane Garden, Aloha Verde, or yoga Glow – you’ll get lots of greens in and feel fabulous!

4). Get some sleep. The holidays are always a busy time of year filled with activities and fun. However, you need to make sure you’re getting enough sleep during this time of year so you can feel your best. It is recommended that we get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep each night to help our bodies rest and recuperate from our day. Getting plenty of sleep helps you stay energized, and keep your immune system functioning properly – so you can fight off all of those holiday germs. Having trouble catching z’s? The Sleep Foundation has a great collection of tips to help you get in your 7-8 hours each night.

5). Enjoy a healthy snack or mini-meal before going to holiday parties. Have you ever heard the expression that you should never go food shopping on an empty stomach? The same goes for holiday parties! Most holiday parties are filled with no-so-healthy foods and lots of sugar from baked goods and alcohol. While these foods are often yummy, we can sometimes over-indulge in them. If you have a difficult time not over-eating at parties, try having a snack or mini-meal before going out. That way you’ll fill up on your healthy snack, and prevent yourself from over-eating at the party. Tip: Stop on by SurfBerry and try one of our delicious smoothies on the way to your next party! You’ll get a good dose of vitamins and nutrients, while filling up a bit on a healthy treat. 

Looking for a yummy Thanksgiving side dish to share with your family and friends this holiday season? Look no further – this Healthy Brussel Sprouts Recipe is a complement to any Thanksgiving meal. It uses fresh seasonal ingredients and can be made in less than 30 minutes—perfect when you’re rushing around Thanksgiving morning!

Plus, it’s super good for you. Brussel Sprouts are loaded with vitamins and nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, manganese, and fiber (Source). It’s a healthy dish that’s full of flavor. Put some green on your Thanksgiving table this year and give this a healthy Brussel Sprouts Recipe a try!

Healthy Brussel Sprouts Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 stalk fresh Brussel Sprouts, removed from stalk (approximately 4 cups)

1 medium sized sweet onion

3 Tablespoons raw coconut oil

3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Sea salt & black pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 Tablespoon of the raw coconut oil. Thinly slice the the onion and add them to the skillet, tossing to make sure to evenly coat the onion slices in the oil. Continue to stir every few minutes to make sure they don’t catch and burn.

While the onions are cooking, remove the Brussel Sprouts from their stalk. Wash and cut the Brussel Sprouts in half.

Once the onions are translucent and fragrant, add the balsamic vinegar and toss to combine. All the onions to cook for 5-10 minutes in the vinegar, until it becomes thicker.

Add the Brussel Sprouts to the pan, and toss with the onions. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, until the Sprouts are bright green and still a bit crunchy.

Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Enjoy!

We’d love to hear from you! How do you make your Thanksgiving spread a healthy one? Let us know in the comments below!